US5865791A — Atrial appendage stasis reduction procedure and d…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 73 words

A method of reducing the effective volume of an atrial appendage comprising the steps of introducing a first catheter intravascularly into the atrium, said first catheter being provided at its distal end with a loop or lasso, introducing a second catheter within the perimeter of said loop or lasso, attaching said second catheter to an interior surface of an atrial appendage, and pulling said atrial appendage through said loop to cause inversion thereof.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 73 words

A method of reducing the effective volume of an atrial appendage comprising the steps of introducing a first catheter intravascularly into the atrium, said first catheter being provided at its distal end with a loop or lasso, introducing a second catheter within the perimeter of said loop or lasso, attaching said second catheter to an interior surface of an atrial appendage, and pulling said atrial appendage through said loop to cause inversion thereof.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 11 words

Method according to claim 1 wherein said lasso is subsequently tightened.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 86 words

A probe device for manipulating an interior tissue surface thereof comprising a first elongated catheter body, a first distal end assembly on said first catheter body comprising means for repositioning said tissue surface; a second elongated catheter body, a second distal end assembly on said second catheter body comprising means for affixing said tissue surface in said repositioned orientation; and at least one external control means operatively connected to one of said first or second distal end assemblies for selectively effecting said repositioning and affixing thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 86 words

A probe device for manipulating an interior tissue surface thereof comprising a first elongated catheter body, a first distal end assembly on said first catheter body comprising means for repositioning said tissue surface; a second elongated catheter body, a second distal end assembly on said second catheter body comprising means for affixing said tissue surface in said repositioned orientation; and at least one external control means operatively connected to one of said first or second distal end assemblies for selectively effecting said repositioning and affixing thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

A probe according to claim 3 wherein said second distal end assembly comprises a loosenable lasso.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 68 words

A method of reducing the effective volume of an atrial appendage comprising the steps of deploying a first device into the atrium, the first device carrying a loop structure having a perimeter, deploying a second device within the perimeter of said loop structure, attaching the second device to an interior surface of an atrial appendage, and pulling the atrial appendage through said loop structure to cause inversion thereof.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 68 words

A method of reducing the effective volume of an atrial appendage comprising the steps of deploying a first device into the atrium, the first device carrying a loop structure having a perimeter, deploying a second device within the perimeter of said loop structure, attaching the second device to an interior surface of an atrial appendage, and pulling the atrial appendage through said loop structure to cause inversion thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method according to claim 5 and further including, after the pulling step, the step of tightening the loop structure about the inverted atrial appendage.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 58 words

A system for manipulating an interior tissue surface comprising a first device carrying a first element to affect positioning of the tissue surface in a repositioned orientation, a second device usable in association with the first device, the second device carrying a second element to affix the tissue surface in the repositioned orientation affected by the first device.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 58 words

A system for manipulating an interior tissue surface comprising a first device carrying a first element to affect positioning of the tissue surface in a repositioned orientation, a second device usable in association with the first device, the second device carrying a second element to affix the tissue surface in the repositioned orientation affected by the first device.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

A system according to claim 7 wherein the second element comprises a loosenable lasso.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

A system according to claim 7 wherein the second element includes a mesh structure to encircle the tissue surface in the respositioned orientation.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system according to claim 7 wherein the first element includes a member to penetrate the tissue surface.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein said loop or lasso comprises a metallic wire, a coil electrode, or an electrode ring and energy is applied to said appendage using said loop or lasso.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 12 words

A method according to claim 11 wherein said energy comprises RF energy.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

A probe according to claim 3 wherein the means for affixing said tissue surface includes a mesh structure to encircle said tissue surface in said repositioned orientation.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

A probe according to claim 3 wherein said means for repositioning said tissue surface includes a member to penetrate said tissue surface.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

A probe according to claim 4 wherein said lasso is formed of an energy emitting material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 18 words

A probe according to claim 15 wherein said lasso is operatively connected to a source of RF energy.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method according to claim 5 wherein said loop structure comprises a metallic wire, a coil electrode, or an electrode ring and energy is applied to said atrial appendage using said loop structure.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 12 words

A method according to claim 17 wherein said energy comprises RF energy.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system according to claim 8 wherein said loosenable lasso is formed of a thermal energy emitting material.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system according to claim 19 wherein said loosenable lasso is operatively connected to a source of RF energy.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 36 words

A device according to claim 14 wherein the member to penetrate the tissue surface includes an interior lumen connected to a source of flowable material to inject flowable material into the tissue surface the member penetrates.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

A device according to claim 21 wherein the flowable material comprises a chemical fixing agent.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 36 words

A system according to claim 10 wherein the member to penetrate the tissue surface includes an interior lumen connected to a source of flowable material to inject flowable material into the tissue surface the member penetrates.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 15 words

A system according to claim 23 wherein the flowable material comprises a chemical fixing agent.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 83 words

A method of isolating an atrial appendage having a wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising the steps of: applying a compression force to at least two portions of the outer surface of the atrial appendage wall such that at least two portions of the inner surface of the atrial appendage wall are in close proximity to one another; and fusing the at least two portions of the inner surface of the atrial appendage wall to one another.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 83 words

A method of isolating an atrial appendage having a wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising the steps of: applying a compression force to at least two portions of the outer surface of the atrial appendage wall such that at least two portions of the inner surface of the atrial appendage wall are in close proximity to one another; and fusing the at least two portions of the inner surface of the atrial appendage wall to one another.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising the step of: inverting the atrial appendage prior to applying the compression force.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the step of applying a compression force to at least two portions of the outer surface of the atrial appendage wall comprises positioning a lasso around the atrial appendage and tightening the lasso.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 49 words

A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the step of fusing at least two portions of the inner surface of the atrial appendage wall comprises heating the atrial appendage wall to a temperature sufficient to fuse the at least two portions of the inner surface to one another.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the step of heating the atrial appendage wall comprises applying electrical energy to the atrial appendage wall.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the step of heating the atrial appendage wall comprises applying radio frequency energy to the atrial appendage wall.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 72 words

A method of isolating an atrial appendage having a wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising the steps of: positioning electrical conductors in contact with at least two portions of the outer surface of the atrial appendage wall, the at least two surfaces substantially opposing one another; and heating the at least two portions of the outer surface of the atrial appendage wall with the electrical conductors.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 72 words

A method of isolating an atrial appendage having a wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the method comprising the steps of: positioning electrical conductors in contact with at least two portions of the outer surface of the atrial appendage wall, the at least two surfaces substantially opposing one another; and heating the at least two portions of the outer surface of the atrial appendage wall with the electrical conductors.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising the step of: inverting the atrial appendage prior to positioning the electrical conductors in contact with the at least two portions of the outer surface of the atrial appendage wall.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the step of positioning electrical conductors in contact with at least two portions of the outer surface of the atrial appendage wall comprises positioning a lasso including a plurality of electrical conductors around the atrial appendage.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 49 words

A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the step of heating the at least two portions of the outer surface of the atrial appendage wall comprises heating the atrial appendage wall to a temperature sufficient to fuse at least two portions of the inner surface to one another.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the step of heating the at least two portions of the outer surface of the atrial appendage wall comprises applying electrical energy to the atrial appendage wall.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the step of heating the at least two portions of the outer surface of the atrial appendage wall comprises applying radio frequency energy to the atrial appendage wall.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-02-01	2002-08-03	2003-02-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-02-01	2006-08-03	2007-02-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-02-01	2010-08-03	2011-02-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Atrial appendage stasis reduction procedure and devices

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